Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-19
The Saloon in Politics.

senators Dawes ana HOar, EX Governor
Long, Edward Everett Hale, c. G.. Coffin
and other well known and respected citi
zens of Massachusetts. have issued an adj
dress to the voters of that State, in behalf
of the aDti-saloon republicans. This con-
tains some important suggestions on the
respective relations of the two great par
ties to the rum power They say
There may be different opinions as to
methods of meeting the evils of intem-
perance, but there can be no difference
among all who have regard for the secur
lty OF society and for good government in
municipality and in commonwealth, as to
the alarming power and tyranny of the
grog shop and the whole liquor interest
Thus far our legislation has for many
years been steadily tending under repub-
lican auspices, to its restriction. 1t has
resisted this with all the force and ingenu-
ity that are to be expected of its immense
pecuniary interests and resources. 1t has
had the open and powerful support of the
democratic party, which as party has, ss
the votes of the mass of its representa-
tives show, sustained it in every effort to
repeal existing restrictive statutes and to
prevent the enactment of new ones like
the notable and indispensable metropoli-
tan police law. Strangely enough, it has
also been indirectly aided by the third
party movement, and to that is indebted
the constitutional prohibitory-am
submission, if not also of several valua-
bic temperance measures. However hon
est may be the leaders of this movement,
it seems impossible that they can be
blind to the result of their action
or that they can justify it unless they de-
sire the defeat OF the republican party
more than the promotion of the cause they
profess. A year ago the republican party
in its platform recommended the submis-
sion of a constitutional prohibitory amend
ment. Though many republicans, as
earnest as any to suppress the dram shop,
thought that every thing which can be
done by constitutional amendment can
be done as well by statute, still they join
ed cordially i'll this step toward having an
expression of the popular will on fun
damental question of long standing, and
of morals rather than of party. The rec
ommendatiOn was therefore, made by an
overwhelming majority, yet with small
minority opposed This was at once a
notice that i'll the coming Legislature
there would be in that party CORE spond-
ing minority, not representing the party
as whole, but necessitating IN the fall
election the support, by all temperance
voters, of senators and representatives
who would vote for the submission OF
such an amendment. In spite OF this nee
essty, the third party deliberately at
tempted the defeat OF we'll known temper
ance republicans, although it was certain
that their defeat would be the election of
democrats who would vote against the
submission Of the amendment. In some y
or 10 instances this scheme succeeded, and
the result is that a two-thirds vote in the
House was impossible. A transfer of four
votes from the negative to the affirmative
would have been sufficient, but more than
three times that number, who otherwise
would have been available, had been kept
at home by those who now charge the re-
lNl hn f,ntlt .
is to the credit of that party,
also, that in the recent Legisla-
ture it passed more temperance measures
than have been enacted in any previous
session for many years-measures, too OF
practical and substantial value.
After reciting these, and giving the
votes upon them showing that they We're
passed by republican votes against demo-
cratic.opposition, the address proceeds:
With showing of which these are sam
pies, while there are individual republi-
cans who oppose temperance legislation
as there are individual democrats who
favor it, can any candid man doubt that
as a party the republican party tavors and
the democratic party opposes Each is a
great party with its distinctive opinion
and policy on all with its political issues
of the day, including this OF temperance
legislation. If we make it the one para
mount issue, as some conscientiOusly feel
bound to do, and are driven to choice be-
tween the two parties. there can be no
hesitation which to prefer. There remains
the only other alternative of acting
with neither, but joining the third
party movement. Experience shows that
the result of that step is, on the
one hand, simply to weaken the party
which stands for all the temperance meas
ures we have been able to maintain, il not
all that public sentiment would make of
on al Ina nt NOR IN
strengthen the party which would break
down all barriers against the liquor traffic
and rum rule. There is no escape from
this cold fact. The inevitable logic of
last year is that if the partial success of
the third party in defeating the return of
dozen or more temperance members Of
the Legislature just so far defeated tenn
perance legislation, its further success in
the same direction will just so much fur
Their defeat temperance legislation. Carry
it to its full length in the defeat of re-
publican and the election of democratic
Legislature, and the saloon has triumph
ed. 1t Is true we cannot have everything
to suit us we cannot push our reform as
fast and as far as we would the great
bodies through which public sentiment
works into action move with slow and
lurchng step. But we insist that, look
ing back over the progress of recent years,
seeing that in Maine, Iowa and Kansas con
stitutional prohibition is a success under
republican lead, and remembering that
in our own commonwealth the great bulk
of the republican party is in sympathy
with the temperance and anti saloon
movement and has, as a party, in the
very last session of the Legislature, ar
rayed itself on that side, it is not the part
of wisdom, 1t Is not in the interest of the
cause we all have at heart to slaughter it.
and thereby destroy the only agency by
which we have had, or are likely to have,
any temperance legislation at all. A live
party that does something is better than a
theoretical one that does nothing but
handicap its friends and fortify the very
enemy II fears. Is it not best to go in for
practical results rather than to beat the
air